L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano V enosa is a small town in south- e r n I t a l y t h a t quietly holds an outsized place in the country's history and cul- tural heritage. Located in the northern part of the Basili- cata region, it sits roughly halfway between Potenza and Foggia, with the latter being the larger and better-con- nected city. The town is situ- ated at approximately 400 meters above sea level and set within a landscape of gen- tle hills, olive groves, and vineyards that mirror its rich agricultural heritage. T h e n a m e V e n o s a i s thought to derive from the L a t i n V e n u s i a , p o s s i b l y linked to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, though some suggest it may refer to the Latin word venenum, mean- ing "poison," because of a n e a r b y p o i s o n o u s s p r i n g . Regardless of its etymology, Venosa truly goes a long way back in time, as it was found- ed in 291 BC by the Romans as a Latin colony following their victory over the Sam- nites; over the centuries, it g r e w i n t o a n i m p o r t a n t R o m a n m u n i c i p i u m a n d l a t e r b e c a m e a k e y p o i n t along the Via Appia, the a n c i e n t r o a d c o n n e c t i n g Rome to Brindisi. The Roman influence is still tangible in Venosa today: the town is home to an exten- sive archaeological park that includes the remains of a Roman amphitheater, baths, houses, and sections of the ancient road. Mosaic frag- ments and columns scattered t h r o u g h t h e s i t e h e l p u s u n d e r s t a n d t h a t R o m a n Venusia was a prosperous, affluent place. Visitors, however, are per- h a p s m o r e i m p r e s s e d b y the Abbazia della Santis- sima Trinità, a stunning architectural complex that holds within several layers of architectural and spiritual history. Originally built on the ruins of a Roman build- ing and later a paleo-Christ- ian church, the abbey was then expanded in the Nor- man period and, still today, r e m a i n s o n e o f t h e m o s t evocative sites in Basilicata. Curiously, next to the fin- i s h e d c h u r c h , w e f i n d a n u n f i n i s h e d b a s i l i c a w i t h massive stone arches and columns that lead nowhere, left as they were in the 12th century. Perhaps Venosa is most f a m o u s l y k n o w n a s t h e birthplace of one of Rome's m o s t c e l e b r a t e d p o e t s , Quintus Horatius Flac- cus, better known in English as Horace: a statue of the poet greets visitors in the central square, and a walk through the historic center, with its narrow alleys and stone façades, can bring us b a c k t o t h e q u i e t u d e a n d b e a u t y t h a t m a y h a v e inspired his verses. Another notable figure associated with Venosa is Carlo Gesu- aldo, the Prince of Venosa, remembered today for his highly expressive and some- times dissonant music of the late Renaissance: his castle still dominates the town's central area, housing cultur- al events and exhibitions. While Venosa's historical credentials are outstanding, the town is also surrounded b y n a t u r a l b e a u t y : t h e peaceful hills around it are dotted with vineyards pro- ducing Aglianico del Vul- ture, a DOC red wine known for its structure and aging potential. Indeed, wine cul- ture is a considerable part of local life, with family-run cel- lars, seasonal grape harvests, and festivals celebrating local varietals. Venosa has also retained many traditions that reflect its rural and religious identi- t y , w i t h H o l y W e e k a n d the Festa di San Rocco, celebrated in August, merg- ing religious devotion and reenactments with fireworks, m u s i c , a n d m a r k e t s . The Sagra dell'Aglianico, a local food and wine fair paying homage to the town's enological pride, is another moment of celebration dur- ing the fall, a time of the year when locals are also busy with making sausages, usual- ly seasoned with wild fennel or hot pepper. A s y o u m a y e x p e c t , Venosa's culinary traditions are rustic and genuine: pasta such as strascinati or orec- chiette is often served with meat ragù or seasonal veg- etables, while lamb, a staple of the Lucanian table, is typi- c a l l y c o o k e d s l o w l y w i t h potatoes and herbs. If you have a sweet tooth, local bak- eries sell biscotti di vino, crunchy red wine cookies that pair naturally with a delicious glass of Aglianico. Venosa may not be a place that clamors for attention, but it certainly offers its visi- tors something more pre- cious: a sense of rootedness, and the pleasure of discover- ing stories and memories, w h i l e e n j o y i n g a g l a s s o f excellent wine. J ust outside Assisi, i n t h e h a m l e t o f C a s t e l n u o v o , a quiet transforma- t i o n t a k e s p l a c e e v e r y s u m m e r : f o r f o u r weekends between late June a n d e a r l y J u l y , t h e local Lavandeto di Assisi, a family-run lavender farm and nursery, opens its gates for the Festa della Lavan- da, an event that has slowly grown into one of Umbria's most unusual and peaceful summer gatherings. Here, everything speaks of c a l m a n d s e r e n i t y : f i e l d s s t r e t c h i n g o v e r a f e w hectares are planted with more than 60 varieties of lavender, with their gentle shades of purple, blue, white, and pink, and the skyline of A s s i s i n e v e r t o o f a r f r o m view. Mind, this isn't a flashy festival, and that's precisely the appeal: people come for the colors, for the quiet, and for the pleasure of walking t h r o u g h p l a n t s t h a t h u m with bees and shift in the breeze. There are guided t o u r s a n d s i m p l e w o r k - shops for those who want to learn more about how laven- der is grown, harvested, or used to make essential oils and herbal products; in case you are up for some shop- ping, there's also a market area where local producers a n d s m a l l a r t i s a n s o f f e r e v e r y t h i n g f r o m l a v e n d e r plants and soaps to honey and dried bunches. On cer- tain weekends, visitors can join outdoor painting classes, d o y o g a b e t w e e n t h e flowerbeds, or stay for an e v e n i n g p i c n i c w i t h l i v e a c o u s t i c m u s i c a n d f o o d stalls. One of the more surprising elements of the Festa is how relaxed and unstructured it feels: families wander, chil- dren run between the rows, and groups gather under the shade of umbrellas or trees w i t h c o l d d r i n k s i n h a n d . T h e r e ' s l a v e n d e r - f l a v o r e d gelato, but also grilled sand- wiches, local cheeses, and simple Umbrian wines. The Festa della Lavanda is not a major tourist attrac- tion, and that works in its f a v o r . I t ' s a q u i e t w a y t o spend a few hours or a whole afternoon, surrounded by a landscape that hasn't been polished or made theatrical; here, nature and its beauty are the focus, but the atmos- phere is what stays with you. It's a different kind of sum- mer event: small, light... and quietly memorable. Lavender fields near Assisi at sunset (Photo: Elisa Bistocchi/Dreamstime) A s u m m e r a f t e r n o o n a t t h e Festa della Lavanda In the footsteps of Horace: a visit to Venosa The Aragonese Castle in Venosa (Photo: minnystock/Dreamstime) LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE TRADITIONS

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